Glasses to contacts (or surgery)

hang-the-9

hang-the-9

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Has anyone gone from playing with glasses to contacts or eye surgery?

Did it help to see the shots easier (no more looking over the rims or having funny double images and such)? Improve your game?

Does anyone use glasses outside of pool and then contacts when you play? Is it even good for your eyes to swap between the 2?

About time for me to check my perscription and I was debating getting a set of contacts to wear at least when I'm shooting, or maybe going all out for the surgery (although the slight chance of a mishap has me a bit worried, as well as people telling them that they heard of some people's eyes getting worse after they got better).
 
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hang-the-9 said:
Has anyone gone from playing with glasses to contacts or eye surgery?

Did help to see the shots easier (no more looking over the rims or having funny double images and such)? Improve your game?

Does anyone use glasses outside of pool and then contacts when you play? Is it even good for your eyes to swap between the 2?

About time for me to check my perscription and I was debating getting a set of contacts to wear at least when I'm shooting, or maybe going all out for the surgery (although the slight chance of a mishap has me a bit worried, as well as people telling them that they heard of some people's eyes getting worse after they got better).
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You can also have a special pair of glasses made. Google "billiard glasses" and there's an optometrist in Canada that makes them.
 
edd said:
You can also have a special pair of glasses made. Google "billiard glasses" and there's an optometrist in Canada that makes them.
Click to expand...

I was thinking about those, but the giant owl look is not for me :-)

Although I also don't like poking things in my eye, so who knows...
 
I got contacts not long ago and it feels much more comfortable then glasses. Only exception will be if you're in a place with very dry air.
You will get used to poke yourself in the eyes after a few days. Not sure I would like to have someone I don't know poke my eyes though.
 
I go back and forth between glasses, and then contacts for playing. I say get the contacts and don't look back. I love my contacts, cant even tell they are in about 99% of the time. One suggestion I would make is to get some of the daily ones if you are only going to use them for playing pool. That way, You will put them in before you go play, then when you are done you can just throw them away. That way you don't have to deal with cleaning them and such. Price wise they are a little bit more, but I'm into it for probably just a little bit more than $1 a day, less than $2 for sure. There are a few different brands out there, you would have to try them and see what works best for you, I can personally vouche for Focus Dailies, they've done well for me for over 10 years now. Hope I helped in some way.
Trevor
 
I wear both, glasses and contacts. I like to shoot pool with contacts, because like you said you don't have to look over the top of your glasses. Easier to shoot pool when you don't have to worry about that little problem, you know? I've been thinking of getting LASIK too, but not just because of pool.

Also, with contacts your eyes can get dry. I use the dailies contacts (wear once and throw away) so that helps a bit, but you can use rewetting drops when your eyes get dry.

ETA: I have the Aqua Comfort Plus dailies from Ciba. I agree with Trevor that they're a little more expensive, but you don't have to buy cleaning fluid and saline.
 
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tjmc25 said:
I go back and forth between glasses, and then contacts for playing. I say get the contacts and don't look back. I love my contacts, cant even tell they are in about 99% of the time. One suggestion I would make is to get some of the daily ones if you are only going to use them for playing pool. That way, You will put them in before you go play, then when you are done you can just throw them away. That way you don't have to deal with cleaning them and such. Price wise they are a little bit more, but I'm into it for probably just a little bit more than $1 a day, less than $2 for sure. There are a few different brands out there, you would have to try them and see what works best for you, I can personally vouche for Focus Dailies, they've done well for me for over 10 years now. Hope I helped in some way.
Trevor
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Thanks, good info. So no issues for you swapping between glasses/contacts? I'm guessing you want to give your eyes a few minutes to refocus after the contacts are put in. I was thinking about disposable ones as you suggested, right now I can only play 1-2 times a week (hour or 2 of practice when my son plays in his Jr. APA league, then a tournament midweek), that's really the only time I am bugged by glasses.

I just looked some stuff up, there are DAILIES® AquaComfort Plus® Contact Lenses and the regular ones. Anyone have suggestions, preferences?
 
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I have absolutely no issues going back and forth between, and no adjustment time either. I put them in and I'm good to go.
Trevor
 
glasses to contacts

I couldn't play pool with my glasses on, so I tried contacts, have been wearing them ever since, my vision is 20/20, without the contacts, I'm blind as a bat, my pool game improved dramatically, also my golf game improved, especially the putting.

As far as switching to glasses, that has never been an issue, I do it once in awhile to rest my eyes.

Good luck in whatever you choose.

Merry Christmas,

John:
 
One option might be a set of billiard glasses. I ordered a pair and shouldn't be too long now. I get a little blurry some nights, my glasses are small square ones and I can't use them as I look over top.

There is a optician in Quebec, just north of you that makes them for a very decent price. There are many guys in my room that use and swear by them.
I don't care for contacts myself and think the glasses are a better option for us old timers.

Here is the link:
http://www.billiard-eyeglasses.com/

You can hardly get frames for that price any more let alone an RX with it.
 
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If you choose to wear glasses, the most important thing is to get a prescription for single lenses and use them for pool only. Explain to the examiner what you want the glasses for and they will find just the right focal point for you, for the table size you most often play on. Just make sure you pick large frames that won't interfere with your line of sight when you are down on the shot.
 
My vision was 20/infinty before I got surgery for them 2 years ago. My vision is 20/15 now. I just had it checked last week and it was still 20/15. Still have a slight astigmatism in the left eye and a touch of the same in the left. When I miss a shot now it's not from not being able to see clearly! I have about made up the money it cost me to get them done by what I have won since I can see better now...
 
I had LASIK surgery for less than $1000 total on both eyes back in 2000. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

I'm almost 62 and my vision is still 20/20... and it was 20/400 with asigmatism in my worse eye. My other eye was 20/200, also with astigmatism.

I love playing pool without glasses. :thumbup:
 
iM 63 HAD MY EYES D ONE JUST FOR POOL . YES JUST FOR POOL , TAILORED MY RIGHT EYE FOR 3TO 10 FT. MY VISION NOW IS 20 15 .Ihad to have one adjustment and that did it talk to Dr. and explain exactly what you want .good luck .
 
Vision correction procedeure

hang-the-9 said:
Has anyone gone from playing with glasses to contacts or eye surgery?

Did it help to see the shots easier (no more looking over the rims or having funny double images and such)? Improve your game?

Does anyone use glasses outside of pool and then contacts when you play? Is it even good for your eyes to swap between the 2?



About time for me to check my perscription and I was debating getting a set of contacts to wear at least when I'm shooting, or maybe going all out for the surgery (although the slight chance of a mishap has me a bit worried, as well as people telling them that they heard of some people's eyes getting worse after they got better).
Click to expand...



Try the procedure called "Gentle Molding", you wear a corrective lense at night, take them out and have 20/20 vision during the day, what it does it reshapes your eyes back to where they were meant to be, even small children can do this, or 80 yr old people ,and after your eyes are molded back , you only have to wear the lense once a week or once a month for some people.

Just "Google " Gentle Molding, you should find something, at least there is no cutting your eyes , and or coming back in 10 yrs. and having to do it again., it cost about the same as lasik, but the benefits are better I think.


David Harcrow
 
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i did...

Over 15 years ago I transitioned from glasses to contacts, and then in 2000 I got lasik surgury on both my eyes.

Playing with glasses was a pita. There were only two problems I had switching over to contacts.

The first was an initial perception problem. When I first started playing with contacts, (be mindful that I was wearing glasses from age 7) I had depth perception issues. Also the balls did not appear round, but were oval. That decreased in time as I suppose my brain adapted to the new signals coming from my eyes. The second was more of a problem with the contacts themselves They were hard to wear during long, smokey poolroom sessions. Maybe new contacts today, are easier on the eyes. I don't know.

As I said, I got lasik surgery in 2000, and still have perfect 20:20 vision. It has been wonderful for me. I only wish I would have done it sooner.

hang-the-9 said:
Has anyone gone from playing with glasses to contacts or eye surgery?

Did it help to see the shots easier (no more looking over the rims or having funny double images and such)? Improve your game?

Does anyone use glasses outside of pool and then contacts when you play? Is it even good for your eyes to swap between the 2?

About time for me to check my perscription and I was debating getting a set of contacts to wear at least when I'm shooting, or maybe going all out for the surgery (although the slight chance of a mishap has me a bit worried, as well as people telling them that they heard of some people's eyes getting worse after they got better).
Click to expand...
 
LASIK is the answer!!

All I have to add to the above comments from those of us who have had LASIK is!! Best decision you'll ever make. Had it done almost 4 years ago, everything is just so much easier it's not even funny. Edges are sharper, pockets are bigger, my vision was -4.75 in both eyes and my Px had been stable for 5 years. Make sure you consult a reputable surgeon, but my vision is still 20-15 and after the treatment period of drops etc. you will never believe the difference. Oh & I wore glasses/contacts for 20 yrs.

Whatever option your Dr recommends, it may be the best decision you ever make & remember contacts & glasses need replaced eventually so that cost will return in a few years.
 
Lasik is a great option for most folks. I had Lasik done about 5 or 6 years ago. Best thing since sliced bread.
 
Lasik is certainly an option and there are many many happy people, however, i know a guy that i used to bowl with that had his eyes done and he now cannot bowl or work or drive a car, certainly the exception. Contacts are a way to go, unfortunately, i cant do them as my right eye is an unusual shape and cannot be fitted. I wear bifocals and can actually play better (and do) without my glasses. Most of you that wear bifocals know of what i speak. BTW, contacts can actually improve your vision as they somewhat reshape your eyes and thats a plus for contacts. Please do a lot of research on the different "Lasik" methods as there are differences between the procedures. The internet is your friend.
 
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